Multiple-tub washing machine and wringer



May 28, 1929. I a. s. KNAPP MULTIPLE TUB WASHING MACHINE AND WRINGER Filed Feb. 6, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

May 28, 1929. G. s. KNAPP MULTIPLE TUB WASHINQMACHINE AND WRINGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 6, 1926 R mW vm m e w e G Patented May 28, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.GEORGE S. KNAPP, OF HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN.

MULTIPLE-TUB WASHING Application filed February My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a multiple tub washing machine and wringer and has for its object the provision of a clothes washing mechanism and clothes" wringing mechanism which may be mounted upon a plurality of laundry tubs in adjacent relation to each other and movable relatively to the tubs so that the washing mechanism may he cmployed in one tub and upon shifting the de' vice relatively to the tub the wringing mechanism may be utilized for operation at the same tub.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism of this class which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, and highly efiicient in use.

Another'object of the invention is the provision of a washing mechanism having a rockable dolly which may be lowered into a tub for washing purposes and raised above the tub for permitting the shifting of the mechanism relatively to the tub.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this class having a movable dolly adapted for movement vertically into operative or inoperative position, and a mechanism for moving the dolly tov either position with the minimum amount of labor.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood from a reference to the accompanying draw ings, which form a part of this specification and in which J I Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the ingention mounted on a two tub laundry tn Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the invention showing it mounted on a conventional laundry tub.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on substantially line 4-4 of Fig. 2 adjacent thelower edge of the guiding tube.

Fig. 5 isa sectional view taken on sub stantially line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view slightly enlarged illustrating the eccentric drive.

The invention is adapted for use on laun- MACHINE AND WIRING-ER.

6, 1926. Serial No. 86,450.

dry tubs of differenttypes and I have illustrated its use on a conventional laundry tub, but from the description it will be apparent that the device may be used on any desirable tub.

I have also in the drawings illustrated the invention as applied to a two tub laundry tub, but it will also appear that the invention is adaptable for use on a larger number of tubs if desired. The use of the invention is particularly beneficial in large apartment houses Where the tubs are placed side to side in considerable numbers-the different tenants using the tubs at the same time. With the invention installed over laundry tubs the washing mechanism may be employed for washing clothes positioned in one tub. while the wringing mechanism may be utilized at the same time for the wringing operation on clothes positioned in another tub. This becomes possible through the shiftability of the washing mechanism and the shiftability of the wringing mechanism.

In washing clothes it is quite customary to-rinse the clothes in a tub adjacent to the tub in which the washing has been effected so that the shiftability of the washing mechanism and the rinsing mechanism together is desirable on this account.

In the view shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 I have shown a two part laundry tub having the tubs 11 and 12 separated by the partition 12. Mounted on the upper surface of the tubs 11 and .12 by bolting or in any other suitable manner is a longitudinally extending angle iron 13, extending along one side" of the tubs 11 and 12. Extending parallel thereto along the other side of the tubs 11 and 12 and suitably secured thereto is an angle iron 14. These angle irons 13 and 14 are connected by transversely extending angle irons 15 and 16. Positioned above the angle irons l3 and let in the position illustrated in Fig. 5 are angle irons 17 and 18 which serve to form a carriage and which are connected at any desired intervals with transversely extending angle irons 19. Mounted upon the carriage frame thus formed is a plate 20 upon which is mounted a plate or bed 19' preferably formed from a casting--and projecting upwardly from which is the housing 20. Projecting upwardly from the housing 20 centrally thereof is the support or bearing 21. Projecting upwardly from the housing 20 is a guide support 22 positioned above which is a cover plate 23 having the bifurcations 23 and 23",. Projecting outwardly from one side of the housing are supporting arms 24 and 25- a bearing 36 being formed on the free end of the supporting arm 24 and a bearing 35 being formed on the free end of the supporting arm 25. Mounted on the bed Orplate 19' is a block 26 upon which is mounted an electric motor 27 adapted to rotate the sheave wheel 28 which is connected by means of the belt 29 to a sheave wheel 30 fixedly mounted upon the shaft 30 which is journalled in the bearing 31 and in the bearing 33. Fixedly mounted upon the shaft 30 is a pinion 32 adapted to mesh with the gear 34 which is I fixedly mounted upon the shaft 34-'said shaft 34 being journalled in the bearings 35 and 36. Fixedly mounted upon the shaft 34 between the supporting arms 24 and 25 is an eccentric 37 to which is attached the eccentric strap 38. Projecting outwardly from one end of the eccentric strap 38 is an arm 39 which is pivotally connected to the rack bar 40 adapted to mesh with the pinion 41 which is loosely mounted upon the shaft 42-as clearly appears in Fig. 4.

This shaft 42 carries at its lower end a dolly 43. Fixedly connected with the pinion 41 is a collar 41 having a recess 44 formed therein in which engage tongues 45 projecting from the sleeve 46 which is fixedly connected to the shaft 42 by means of the pin 47. Loosely mounted upon the shaft 42'is a collar 48. Connected to the shaft 42 fixedly is a collar 49a pin 50 serving to make this fixed connection. Connected to the collar 48 are upwardly projecting arms 51 and 52. Connected to each of which is a cable 60 and 61 respectively. Projecting upwardly from the cover plate 23 is a tubular guide portion 53 having its reduced portion 54 projectedinto a tubular sleeve 56 which rests upon the shoulder 55 formed on the member 53. Mounted on the upper end of the tubular guide member 56 is a cross bar 57 carrying sheaves 58 and 59over which the cables 60 and 61 pass. These cables are connected to counterweights 60' and 61 respectively. Connected to the collar 48 is a handle 62 which projectsthrough a slot 63 formed in the tubular guide member 56. The construction is such that upon a lowering of the counterweights 60 and 61 the cables serve to raise the shaft 42 so as to move the dolly 43 upwardly into the chamber 64 which is provided in the'housing 20 so as to permit the, carriage to be shifted along the rails 13 and 14 to permit the use of the dolly over either the tub 11 or the tub 12. The handle 62 serves as a means for raising and lowering the collar 48 which is attached to the shaft 42.

It is apparent that when the shaft. 42 is elevated to bring the dolly within thechamprovided with a shoulder '22 upon which the rack bar 40 may slide.

Fixedly mounted upon the shaft 34 is a gear 66 which is fixedly mounted upon the shaft 67. This shaft 67 projects into a gear box 68 in which is mounted the mechanism gear 65 connected by means of a chain to a.

for rotating the rollers of the wringer 69. i

This gear mechanism in the box 68 is of a well known type and since it forms no part of the present invention by itself its detail of structure is not shown.

The wringer 69 is shown as provided with the splash board 70. Formed in the cover plate 19 and in one sideof the housing 20 is an opening 71 which is normally closed by the L-shaped closure 72, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

The structure is such that the device may be moved to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 in which case the clothes positioned in the tub may be washed by the dolly 43 which is projected thereinto.

When it is desired to wring the clothes from the tub 12 the mechanism may be shifted on the track to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 2in which case the wringer will be brought into proper position for wringing purposes. It is evident that the track 13- projecting outwardly from the end of the tub 11 the washing mechanism may also be brought over the tub 11 to operate therein. It is also evident that the track and carriage may be mounted on a larger number of tubs if desired.

/ The gearing is shown as covered with a gear housing 73.

The mechanism as illustrated is one which is of simple structure, durable in use and highly eificient for the purposes intended.

lVhile I have illustrated and described the thereto, a dolly insertable in said tub, means for rocking said dolly, said dolly being vertlcally movable at will a sufficient height for clearing the upper Surface of said tub, and

counterweights connected to said dolly vertically movable synchronously with and in apposite directions to'the movement of-said 2. In a mechanism of the class described; a carriage; tracks for supporting said carriage over a plurality of laundry tubs; a bed mounted on said carriage having a housing formed therein; a dolly adapted for inser tion into said tubs for operating and retractable into said housing; said doll" being clear over the upper surface of said tubs when positioned in said housing.

3. In a washing mechanism of the class described, a housing adapted for positioning over a laundry tub; a dolly projectable into said tub; an axially movable shaft connect- 1 ed with said dolly and projected upwardly through said housing; a gear rotatably shaft upon raising of said dolly into said housing.

"In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing.

GEORGE S. KNAPP. 

